Discuss with children the sounds that different farm animals
make, inviting volunteers to make the sounds. You may want to
review the sounds by singing Old MacDonald, including the following
animals: cow, dog, duck, hen, horse, pig, rooster, sheep.

Next, tell children that they will play a listening game
called Pen Pals. Cut out the word cards from the Farm Animal
Word Cards sheet (make enough copies so every child can have
a card) and distribute a card to each child. Tell children not
to reveal the name of the animal on their cards. Assist any child who
needs help reading the word on his or her card. (You may want
to simply assign each child an animal by whispering the name of
the animal in the child's ear.) Be sure that there are at least
two children assigned to the same animal.

Then choose spots in your classroom that can serve as
make-believe "pens" for the different animals. (If you use
the animals listed above, you will need eight pens.) Point
out to children where the pens are. Now they are ready to
play the game. Explain that their goal is to go to their pens,
but first they must find their pen pals (other children with
the same animal card). The catch is that they cannot use words
to find their pen pals. Each child must make the noise of the
animal on his or her card (or the animal you assigned them).
Once all the pen pals are together, they can go to their pen.
The game is over when all the animals are in their pens.

TEACHING OPTIONS

Play Pen Pals outside and turn it into a race. The first group
of pen pals to get to the correct pen wins.

Tape-record children making the sounds of different farm animals
(one animal at a time). Then play the tape and have children take
turns naming the animal that goes with each sound.